Herm is gone, so my lunatic 2006 Jets plan is pretty much grounded less than 24 hours after its launch online.
But my loyal readers still enjoyed the opportunity to share their opinions on the plan and the man who wrote them. Here are a few of the emails received since Thursday evening, along with my responses:
Thomas S. with Rhode Island connections writes:
Finally someone who has the same ideas I had since week 4 of the season but you forgot one thing. Find a way to keep Ty Law. After one season of getting back into gear, he is ready to perform at an elite level for about 2 more years.
Tom, there's comfort in knowing that I'm not the only lunatic on the Eastern seaboard. Ty Law would have led the NFL in interceptions if he didn't drop that one in Kansas City and several others along the way.
Eddie F. in Port Jeff writes:
Reading your proposal was actually not all that far off from my thinking as well. Although we may be the only 2 crazy enough to admit it! I actually had the following in mind- disregarding all the scenarios that would need to float in order to make this work-
1. Get Favre- no matter what…Hey no disrespect to Vinny- but he is only 36
2. Sign Abraham- are you kidding? This should be a no brainer.
3. Use all top draft picks for the O-Line
4. Send Blaylock with Herm back to KC in exchange for draft picks and Priest Holmes(he’s got at least as much as Curtis left in the tank)- then platoon the 3 including Houston
5. Keep Ty Law
6. Get T.O. We all know he has respect for Favre (after he diss’d D-Mac big time earlier this year) His market value while somewhat diluted will still be more than what they are probably going to be willing to pay-so
7. Get Big Blue to finance part of the deal- you ask why??? Because – you hire away Tuna from the Big D helping the Giants take out the competition in their Division-
This is why I will not quit my day job to become a GM anytime soon. But can you blame me? We have had time to fantasize about ’06 since week 4 or 5!!!!
The Parcells thing is bonkers, but at least you know to hang on to the paychecks. It's rare when lunacy and sanity possess the same brain.
Brian K. checks in from Titans country:
Where is all the cap money coming from? We are 30 million over now, then add Favre and T.O. plus we still need to pay Abraham and find a big nose tackle.
Brian, under this one-year scenario, we don't care about the salary cap for 2006. We would let the franchise deal with that in later years.
Debbie K., parts unknown, writes:
Fire the GM and the Owner. Bradway and Woody must go. Bring back Parcells (wishful thinking).
Debbie, if only the NFL could fire their owners, we'd all live happier lives. The only way an owner will ever realize he stinks is when every fan unites and boycotts a game completely.
Joe L. from parts unknown writes:
Your idea sucks just for the fact to keep Edwards. The Jets do not need Dr. Phil, but a real honest to God coach who can plan and manage a game. Pennington should be gone, he has proven he is not durable enough and can't throw to save his life. Bring in T.O. and I agree get a solid QB veteran. Draft Leinart or Young for the future and resolidify defense and O-line. Curtis stays for sure. BUT MOST OF ALL FIRE HERM, he is worthless!!!
Joe, I've been a big Herm fan since his arrival. He's a great man. Just not a great gameday coach. It's always sad when you have to acknowledge the tragic flaw in your heroes.
Some dude, somewhere writes:
Have Woody Johnson sell the team to Woody Allen. The Jets are a joke anyway. Fire Bradway and hire Ron Wolf.
Dude, it's time for you to put your Pat Leahy jersey away and go root for the other team that plays in the Meadowlands.
Fred B., parts unknown, writes:
GET HASLETT FOR COACH
Fred, the all caps just enhances the lunacy of such a statement. Jim Haslett took the Saints to the playoffs in his first season with Ditka's team and has steadily gone down the toilet since. The Jets were 4-12 this season. Why would they hire a coach who led his team to 3-13 season?
"Chicago" Bob Fogarty writes:
My 7 step approach:
1.) Unfortunately it appears that Edwards is gone so we must move in another direction. First things first, fire Bradway. I do not trust him with the prime draft picks we have.
2.) Ask Buffalo for permission to speak with Tom Modrak and put him in charge.
3.) Bring in Mike Sherman or Ron Rivera (Bears defensive coordinator) to coach. Sherman has done a good job in Green Bay with not the greatest talent. He was virtually without a running or receiving game this year and they were in every game. Ron Rivera was actually the front runner before Donnie Henderson was hired. The only reason he did not get the job is the fact he told Edwards if the Bears came calling (which they did) he would prefer going back to Chicago (he was a LB on the ’85 Super Bowl team). Rivera is well organized and supposedly a great motivator (the players love him).
4.) All things being equal when their picks come up, draft OL, however, do not make the mistake of going OL if a superior player is available at the time of the pick.
5.) Sign Abraham
6.) Let go of Curtis Martin. The love affair needs to come to an end. We need some speed at that position. I often wonder how much yardage Lamont Jordan would have gotten being the featured back the year Martin won his last rushing title. Fabini, Law and some of the other overpaid players can go as well.
7.) Get someone who knows how to negotiate contracts. The Jets take great pride on getting their players in camp on time however they pay for it in the end by overpaying players. I can see why agents love dealing with the Jets front office. It is all one sided -- on the players side.
Chicago, any man who gives himself his own nickname when emailing sportswriters deserves his props. So, props to "Chicago" Bob. Are you one of Bill Swersky's "Superfans?" I hear they have great polish sausage in Chicago.
Dennis O. from parts unknown writes:
You must be on drugs!!!!!!!
Dennis, to paraphrase Jeff Spicoli, "People on ludes should not blog."
Someone with Babylon connections writes:
If all you're looking for is to sell No. 4 Favre jerseys, that not what football's about idiot. Favre is done, we need a fresh new QB like Leinart to get this team jump started. And T.O. is just going to plague this team like he did the Eagles. We don't need his drama all season complaining about this and that.
Babylon, Jersey sales are a byproduct of this one-year plan. A rookie quarterback would not get the team jump-started. Roethlisberger succeeded in Pittsburgh last year because every other aspect of that team was solid. The Jets are not that fortunate right now.
From parts unknown, Steve G. emails:
Why couldn't Jets management have had the brains to negotiate terms of a "conditional draft choice deal" with the Chiefs before permitting K.C. to even open negotiations with Herman Edwards? Now, Edwards is gone, no matter what. No way does he deserve a raise and/or long-term extension after a 4-12 season. The Jets management is to be faulted for allowing this travesty to have unfolded the way that it has.
Steve, math must not be your strong suit. Jets management + brains = undefined.
Adam V., parts unknown, hit up my in-box with this:
I like your ideas, but you forgot one thing! Get rid of Pennington. He is a liability and is going to cost to much money.
These are both true. But a) no one will take him. b) Favre would need a backup, just in case.
Will K., parts unknown, writes:
Your article is brilliant. The least likely aspect of your scenario, believe it or not, is the Favre deal - no one is trading for McCareins after seeing him play this year. Coles, maybe, but not McCareins. Still, T.O. and almost anyone would be a great pair, with Favre making the throws.
Will, maybe so, but imagine 75,000 people with New York and New Jersey accents mispronouncing his name like they were Ben Stiller.
Rob M., parts unknown, gets the final say today:
We all knew that from the moment Owens' stay in Philly was over that, in spite of the cancerous atmosphere that follows him wherever he goes, someone (read "a genius in the media") would begin calling for his/her team to go after Owens. Makes sense. People can't stop smoking, using cocaine, or getting drunk even though they and everyone around them can see the inevitable train wreck heading for their lives. So I can't think of anything nicer than Owens ending up in NY.
Rob, me a genius? Yes. In the media? Yes. But, a genius in the media? No, sir. However, I won't be the first one suggesting ridiculous concepts for T.O. and their local team. At least I admitted the lunacy of the entire plan up front. (Great metaphor, by the way.)
Keep the emails flowing by clicking on my byline up top.